Want Proof?
Here is a experiment that shows the Third Laws of Motion.

Balloon Rockets

This is a simple, easy and fun experiment about Newton's third law of motion. Basically they show how the air coming out of the balloon propels it forward. The whole experiment basically gives the balloon a track to travel across so you can observe the third law of motion without all the spinning. There are two ways to do this experiment, and I'm going to explain both. Honestly, they're the same, but with the second you don't need a string running across your house.

Way number 1: Balloon Rocket


For this experiment all you need is:

  • a balloon
  • 5 meters of fishing line
  • soapy water
  • somewhere to tie the ends of the fishing line

Goal

First off, my group decided we would do this experiment three times, each with the balloon filled to a different diameter. We wanted to see if the size of the balloon effected the speed/distance the balloon went.

Hypothesis

We believed that the more filled the balloon the farther it would go, because more air meant more force to push the balloon, but we also thought that it would travel at similar speeds because the larger the balloon the more air resistance it would encounter. Even if we could do this experiment in space, where there is no air resistance, I believe that the balloon would still go at the same, or near the same speed because the hole the air comes out of is only so big, and only a certain amount of air can come out at once.

Set-Up

balloon_rocket.jpg
Balloon Rocket
To set up this experiment we first measured out 5m of fishing line. We tied each end to a chair and and moved pulled the line tight. we taped the balloon (filled to a 15cm diameter) to a straw and threaded it onto the fishing line. To reduce the friction on the fishing line (we chose to use fishing line because it applied the least friction to the straw, but it still could be brought down a little) we rubbed soapy water onto it.

Gathering results & charting data

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Way number 2: Balloon Car


for this experiment you need:

  • A balloon
  • A Lego car
  • a track for the car
  • a smooth floor/surface

This experiment is almost identical to the one above. I realy just filmed to show you an example of another way if the way above is hard somehow for you.

Set up
Balloon_car.jpg
Balloon Car

first you have to build a car (mine was out of Legos, but yours can be anything). It should be long, about 6 inches (15cm) and light. Tape the balloon to the middle of the vehicle. You will see in the Video Below I used a track to try and keed it strait, but it isnt necissary. If you do use them, tape them to the floor in a long hallway (at least 2 1/2 - 3m). the rails should be about a meter long on each side and be spaced apart about the width of your car (the one you made, not your family BMW). to measure the distance your car travels, you should have a tape measure along the side of your track. (in the video you see that the tape measure also helped keep the vehicle thraveling strait)




Forget Combustion and Electric Cars! Who Needs Electrolosis?

We Have BALLOON POWER!